Ladder scaffold bracket



. y 5, 1965 G. E. LANE 3,185,425

LADDER SCAFFOLD BRACKET Filed Dec. 12, 1962 J INVHVTOR.

BY as firraxlvzr United States Patent 3,185,425 LADDER SCAFFOLD BRACKET George E. Lane, 628 Washington St., Oconto, Wis. Filed Dec. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 244,135

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-238) This invention relates generally to a bracket and more particularly to a ladder scaffold bracket.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved ladder bracket.

Ladder brackets are used by carpenters and painters, and others, for work on buildings, it being a usual pract-ice to employ two spaced ladders disposed leading against a building, each ladder carrying a bracket to support a plank thereacross, thereby providing a standing platform for a worker.

An object of this invention is the provision of ladder bracket means adapted to support platform means on both sides of leaning ladders and at the same elevation.

Another object is to provide ladder bracket means that is strong, comparatively lightweight, simple, and economical to construct.

Other specific objects and many of the attendant advantages 'of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bracket embodying the features of the invention applied to a ladder leaning against a building, and showing planks supportably mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ladder bracket, per se;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the ladder bracket in its first stage position in its application to a ladder; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the ladder bracket in its second stage position in its application to a ladder.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown the side of a house generally indicated at having a ladder generally indicated at 11 normally leaning against said house, a bracket generally indicated at 12, embodying the features of the invention, applied to said ladder, and plank ends 16 and 14 operatively supported on said bracket. The complementary and companion ladder and bracket supporting the other ends of said planks, all correspondingly related,

are not shown.

The ladder 11 is of the usual type comprising side rails 15 and 16, and rungs, such as indicated at 17, 18 and 19, spaced apart a standard distance.

The bracket 12 comprises an operative elongated horizontal bar member 21, a diagonal bar member 22 disposed at a declining acute angle relative to said horizontal member 21 and secured thereto, forwardly thereof, by means of lag screw 23, to form a V-shaped arrangement of said two members. Said V-shaped arrangement is further modified by the provision of a vertical bar member 24 disposed intermediate the ends of and substantially transversely across said horizontal member 21. The lower end portion of said vertical member extends downwardly onto diagonal member 22; and the upper end portion of said vertical member extends upwardly beyond the horizontal member 21 to form extension 25.

Said vertical member 24 is secured to the horizontal member 21 by means of bolts and nuts such as indicated at 26, and to the diagonal member by means of bolts and nuts such as indicated at 27, see FIG. 2.

In one physical embodiment of a suitable bracket, the

mately thirty degrees.

3,185,425 Patented May 25, 1965 ice members comprising the bracket were made of wood having a width of approximately three and seven-eighths inches, and a thickness of approximately one and threesixteenths inches. The acute angle between the horizontal member 21 and the diagonal member 22 was approxi- The substantially vertical member 24 tilted backwardly at an acute angle of approximately eighty-six degrees to the horizontal member 21. The extension 25 extended approximately eight inches above the horizontal member 21; and the end portion 26, of diagonal member 22, measured approximately eight and one-half inches from the vertical member to the end of such diagonal member. These angles and dimensions were suitable for a bracket adapted for use with a ladder having rungs spaced apart the standard distance of substantially twelve inches.

However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such dimensions and angles; nor is the invention limited to the material, wood, or to the bar shape thereof.

Operation-Assume that a pair of spaced ladders are disposed leaning against the side of a building and a painter, carpenter, or other operator requires an elevated support to enable him to reach work areas above those reachable from the ground. The present invention provides brackets to support platform planks as follows.

The operator thrusts an arm between the ladder rungs, such as between rungs 18 and 19, at the approximate elevation deemed satisfactory and suitable for the platform, and grasps the bracket at the rearward portion of horizontal member 21, and disposes the bracket in a generally vertical plane as shown in FIG. 3.

He then cants the bracket to the right, and backwardly, to enable the end portion 25 of vertical member 24 to be drawn outwardly of the ladder and disposed to the outside of the ladder, such as shown in FIG. 4.

Then by maneuvering the end portion 26 of diagonal member 22 outwardly toward the operator, through the space between rungs 1 7 and 18, the bracket can be brought to rest vertically on rung 18 through means of horizontal member 21 bearing on said rung 18 at the vertical member 24. In such operative disposition, the upper extension 25 of vertical member 24 is brought engageably disposed adjacent the outside face of adjacent upper rung 19; and the end portion 26 of diagonal member 22 is brought engageably disposed adjacent the upper face of adjacent lower rung 17, such as shown in FIG. 1.

A second companion bracket is similarly applied to the other of said spaced ladders.

A plank 13 is then disposed supported across the for ward portions of the horizontal members 21 of said brackets, and another plank 14 may be disposed supported across the rearward portions of said members.

A workman standing on plank 13 generates a counterclockwise moment of force which is resisted by rung 19 reacting against the upper extension 25 of vertical member 24; and a workman standing on plank 14 generates a clockwise moment of force which is resisted by rung 17 reacting against the end portion 26 of diagonal member 22.

For increased stability the brackets should be disposed abutting one of the ladder side rails, respectively.

A prime characteristic feature of this invention is the provision of a ladder scaffold bracket having a horizontal member extending on both sides of a ladder to support platform planks on such both sides and at the same elevation; the provision of an improved ladder bracket; and the provision of a simple, lightweight, and economical ladder bracket.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within 3 the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

The combination of a ladder having rungs, with a bracket having an elongated horizontal member supported, substantially centrally thereof, on and tranversely of one of such rungs and having a forward portion and rearward portion, relative to said one rung, for supporting scaffold planks thereon; an elongated diagonal member disposed below and angularly related to said horizontal member, the forward end portion of said diagonal member being disposed adjacent the forward end portion of said horizontal member, and the divergent rearward end portion of said diagonal member terminating at and being engaged with the upper face of an adjacent lower rung relative to said one rung; means rigidly connecting the adjacent forward end portions of said horizontal and diagonal members; an elongated substantially vertical member disposed adjacent and substantially centrally of said horizontal member and terminating upwardly at and being engaged with the outside face of an adjacent upper rung relative to said one rung; and means rigidly connecting said vertical member to said horizontal member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. 

